Professional Dota 2 carry Anton “Dyrachyo” Shkredov, a key player for Gaimin Gladiators, recently offered a rather unfiltered opinion on the playstyles of two prominent teams: China`s **Xtreme Gaming** and Southeast Asia`s **Talon Esports**. His assessment? They are, in his view, the most “boring” teams to watch from a spectator`s standpoint.
Speaking during a livestream, Dyrachyo did not mince words when describing his viewing experience with these squads. His core criticism centered on their perceived tendency to prolong games and prioritize extensive farming over dynamic action. He elaborated that this strategic approach, while potentially effective, results in a lack of entertainment value for the audience.
Specifically addressing Talon Esports, Dyrachyo noted their consistent pattern of dragging games out, often exceeding the hour mark. He found this drawn-out style “very unpleasant” to witness, irrespective of whether he was actively playing himself or merely observing. The perceived tactic, as he described it, involved selecting heroes strong in the late game, dedicating significant time to accumulating resources, and only engaging decisively once fully powered up.
A similar critique was leveled against Xtreme Gaming. Dyrachyo specifically highlighted the approach involving their carry player, **Ame**. He characterized the strategy of Ame “hitting creeps for 40 minutes” purely to emerge with six item slots for a final confrontation as something he found “simply disgusting to watch.” The implication being that this method, while perhaps maximizing efficiency for a specific game phase, sacrifices early-to-mid game excitement and constant player interaction that many viewers crave.
Offering a contrast, Dyrachyo mentioned teams like **Team Liquid** as examples of squads that he finds enjoyable to watch. He appreciates teams that “surprise” and “play differently,” implying a preference for adaptability, varied strategies, and more frequent impactful plays throughout the game, rather than a singular focus on scaling into the deep late game.
Dyrachyo`s comments underscore the ongoing, perhaps eternal, debate within competitive Dota 2: the tension between strategies optimized purely for winning (even if it means slow, calculated farming) and strategies that prioritize entertainment and viewer engagement. While Xtreme Gaming and Talon Esports might find success through their methods, Dyrachyo`s candid feedback suggests that effectiveness doesn`t always equate to watchability in the eyes of fellow professionals, or perhaps the wider community.
His remarks provide a peek behind the curtain of pro player perspectives, reminding us that even those competing at the highest level have their own preferences for what constitutes an exciting game of Dota 2. And for Dyrachyo, the extended farming simulator simply doesn`t make the cut.